Ring buoy.



H. P. BUSCH.

RING BUOY.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 1a, 1908.

Patented Feb. 23,' 1909.

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UNITE STATS PAINT OFFICE.

HERMAN F. BUSCH, OF MILLVAIE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO ARMSTRONG CORK COM- PANY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

RING BUOY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 18, 1908.

Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

Serial No. 449,052.

T o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN F. Busen, of Millvale, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Ring Buoy, of which the following is a full, clear, and eX- act description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a plan view partly in section of a ring buoy, showing the preferred construction; Fig. 2 is an edge view, partly in section; Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view, on the line III--III of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 shows a modification.

My invention has relation to ring or life buoys wherein the buoy is built up of solid blocks or sections of cork, which are rigidly united, preferably by wooden pins, and further secured by a circumferential hoop or band, and having a series of radial straps or bands to bind the several parts or sections compactly together; and the object of my invention is to provide such a ring buoy which will be strong and durable, yet simple and economical in construction.

A further object is to provide a ring buoy which will not have a fabric or other covering over it to induce mold and decay.

The precise nature of my invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which I have shown my preferred construction, it being premised however that various changes may be made in the details of construction, and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

In the drawings, 2, 2 are the outer and 3 the intermediate layers or sections of cork which are bonded or secured, preferably by wooden pins or dowels 4, as best shown in Fig. 3. The sections or layers may however be united by waterproof cement, or they may be sewed or bonded together by any suitable material.

The layers or sections 2, 3 are so shaped as to form a laminated buoy of the usual circular form, and the outer layers 2, are preferably staggered with relation to the intermediate layer 3, so that the abutting joints between the several layers are broken to give a solid and durable construction.

5 represents a metallic band or hoop which is fitted around the assembled sections 2 and 3, to bind them firmly together, and to still further bind the parts, I provide a plurality of radial bands or straps 6, preferably of copper, which are clamped around the cork sections and around the peripheral band or hoop 5, and these bands 6 may have their ends riveted and bent down as indicated at 6a.

rIhe bands 6, are secured around the cork sections at the points where the oints of the outer sections 2, 2, abut. At a point directly under each of the bands 6 is formed a cavity or depression 7 and the hoop or band 5 is depressed into these cavities, thus providing openings S between said band and the radial bands 6, through which the life line 9 may be loosely woven. This life line serves as a handle by which the buoy may be conveniently grasped.

Instead of forming the buoy of the overlapping sections 3 and 3, I may construct it as s iown in Fig. 4, wherein I provide a series of cork disks or blocks 10 and place the blocks end to end, so that all the joints are radial and unite the disk sections by water-proof cement, or by suitable wire binders l1 and surround it with the peripheral band or hoop 5a, which may be provided with suitable eyes or loops to receive a life line.

Heretofore in the manufacture of ring buoys the cork body has been incased in a fabric covering, which necessitates the use of paint or other water-proof coating, and in the practical use of such covered buoys it has been demonstrated that the cover soon loses its strength and elicieucy by reason of eX- posure, becomes moldy, weak and unsafe; and to apparently cover these defects, and give the article a good appearance, it is treated to numerous coats of paint, thereby destroying the buoyancy and usefulness. By my improved construction I provide a buoy which is entirely free from any fabric cover or paint coating, and which can be kept clean and white by ordinary washing, so that its durability and efficiency is very greatly increased.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim l. A ringl buoy comprising an annular body portion of uncovered buoyant material, a peripheral metallic band surrounding the body portion and a plurality of transversely encircling bands substantially as described.

2. A ring buoy comprisingl an annular laminated body portion, a peripheral metallic band surroundingsaid body portion and a plurality of transversely encircling metal ing said uncovered body portion having inbands; substantially as described.

3. A ring buoy comprising an annular laminated cork body portion, a peripheral metallic band surrounding said body portion and a plurality of transversely encircling metal bands; substantially as described.

4. A ring buoy comprising an uncovered annular body ortion of buoyant :material having a plura ity of depressions on its periphery, a peripheral metallic band surrounddentations engaging said depressions and transverse encircling metallic bands for securing said peripheral band' in place; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have liereunto set4 my hand.

HERMAN F. BUSCH. Witnesses GEO. B. BLEMING, FLOYD LYON. 

